Saturday, October 7, 2006

After Thursday night's win against the Flames, our friend Dwayne, clearly euphoric (and presumably drunk) with the buzz of having just watched his first hockey game in three months, was heard to remark, "You know, I don't think they're going to lose all year."

A bold prognosis, perhaps — but a victory tonight will bring us one step closer to his dream of a perfect 82-0-0 Oilers season. The Globe and Mail's sports department might want to get a head start on busting off the same gas valves in the office they had spun wide open last December when they ran that lead story asking if the Sens were not "THE BEST TEAM EVER?" (Postscript: It turns out they weren't.) I'd link to the story, but I'm not dumb/50-years-old enough to register to pay for access to online news content.

Anyhow, let's kick a little more ass again tonight, this time in front all six "Sea of Red" members who didn't shrug their shoulders and drive the Canyonero down to Sport Chek to return their still-creased home jerseys after their beloved Flames failed to give them something to show their tits about beyond April.

THESE THINGS I BELIEVEI'll one-up BoA and say 5-1 Oilers win, with goals by Thoreson, Sykora, Moreau, Smyth and Bergeron. Kipper can't own us forever.

OIL SPIZZ• In case you missed it, the recently crowned 2006 Hot-Off Champion was just, not coincidentally, signed to a four-year contract extension for terms undisclosed. Over-long, perhaps, but Moreau is a protypical hard-working Oilers forward. Lowe continues to reward the core.

• The Maple Leafs continued to cause their fans to contort themselves in knots trying to justify JFJ's logic by signing barely useful career fourth-liner Boyd Devereaux to a one-year, two-way contract. At least this speedy former Oiler draft actually seems like a Maurice-type forward, I guess.

• TB and Dave have finally moved into the 21st century by bringing their insightful and witty column, In The Box, online. If you hate computers, ITB also runs every Thursday in my old stomping/complaining grounds, Edmonton news and arts mag Vue Weekly.

8-1 isn't anything to get excited about compared to a 8-0 shutout effort by both Roli and the much maligned D-men.

Oh, and Kipper getting chased after three weak goals, McLennan coming in and getting chased as well for Kipper to come back and be embarassed by a two on oh between Hemsky and Sykora after Phaneuf trips over a broken stick.

"Kings rookie Anze Kopitar seems too good to be true. The 19 year-old has a long reach, is strong on his skates and blessed with fine offensive instincts. He cruised right past Ducks D Chris Pronger to score his first NHL goal and could very well be a Calder Trophy candidate."